Collective intelligence: A unifying concept for integrating biology across scales and substrates

Communications Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 7(1)

Published: March 28, 2024

Abstract A defining feature of biology is the use a multiscale architecture, ranging from molecular networks to cells, tissues, organs, whole bodies, and swarms. Crucially however, not only nested structurally, but also functionally: each level able solve problems in distinct problem spaces, such as physiological, morphological, behavioral state space. Percolating adaptive functionality one competent subunits higher functional organization requires collective dynamics: multiple components must work together achieve specific outcomes. Here we overview number biological examples at different scales which highlight ability cellular material make decisions that implement cooperation toward homeodynamic endpoints, intelligence by solving cell, tissue, whole-organism levels. We explore hypothesis province groups animals, an important symmetry exists between science swarms competencies cells other systems scales. then briefly outline implications this approach, possible impact tools field diverse for regenerative medicine synthetic bioengineering.

Language: Английский

---

Synechism 2.0: Contours of a New Theory of Continuity in Bioengineering

Biosystems, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 105410 - 105410

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Biases, evolutionary mismatch and the comparative analysis of human versus artificial cognition: a comment on Macmillan-Scott and Musolesi (2024)

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Meat Meets Machine! Multiscale Competency Enables Causal Learning

Published: April 23, 2024

Biological intelligence uses a “multiscale competency architecture” (MCA). It exhibits adaptive, goal directed behaviour at all scales, from cells to organs organisms. In contrast, machine is only adaptive and high level. Learned policies are passively interpreted using abstractions (e.g. arithmetic) embodied in static interpreters x86). excels causal learning. Machine does not. Previous work showed learning follows weak policy optimisation, which hindered by presupposed silico. Here we formalise MCAs as nested “agentic abstraction layers”, understand how they might learn causes. We show that optimisation low levels enables high. This facilitates what call learning” level behaviour. argue engineering human silico disconnect the gave rise it. inhibits learning, speculate this one reason why recall would be accompanied feeling,

Language: Английский

---

Universal Complexity Science and Theory of Everything: Challenges and Prospects

Systems, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(1), P. 29 - 29

Published: Jan. 15, 2024

This article argues that complexity scientists have been searching for a universal in the form of “theory everything” since some important theoretical breakthroughs such as Bertalanffy’s general systems theory, Wiener’s cybernetics, chaos synergetics, self-organization, self-organized criticality and complex adaptive systems, which brought study into mainstream science. In this respect, much attention has paid to importance “reductionist science” or theory everything”. Alternatively, many scholars strongly argue holistic emergentist The unifying characteristic both attempts account is an insistence on one robust explanatory framework describe almost all natural socio-technical phenomena. Nevertheless, researchers need understand conceptual historical background “complexity order these longstanding efforts develop single all-inclusive theory. overview, I address underappreciated problem accounts seem problematic, they do not be able capture whole reality. realization could mean idea omnipotent falls flat. However, prospects “holistic are better than Nonetheless, various forms contemporary thinking tools make path more accessible. These new advances about complexity, “Bohr’s complementarity”, Morin’s Complex thinking, Cabrera’s DSRP might allow theorists abandon EITHER/OR logical operators start BOTH/AND seek reconciliation between reductionism holism, lead them

Language: Английский

---

Is Complexity an Illusion?

Published: June 7, 2024

Simplicity is held by many to be the key general intelligence. Simpler models tend “generalise”, identifying cause or generator of data with greater sample efficiency. The implications correlation between simplicity and generalisation extend far beyond computer science, addressing questions physics even biology. Yet a property form, while function. In interactive settings, any two depends on interpretation. theory there could no yet in practice, is. Previous theoretical work showed consequence “weak” constraints implied function, not form. Experiments demonstrated choosing weak over simple forms yielded 110-500% improvement rate. Here we show that all can take equally forms, regardless weakness. However if are spatially extended, then function represented using finite subset forms. If force making determined goal directed process favours versatility (e.g. natural selection), efficiency demands Complexity has causal influence generalisation, but appears due confounding. Press: Accepted for publication Proceedings 17th Conference Artificial General Intelligence, 2024

Language: Английский

---

A Systematic Review of Mobile Brain/Body Imaging Studies Using the P300 Event-Related Potentials to Investigate Cognition Beyond the Laboratory

Published: Jan. 3, 2024

This systematic review assesses the quality and scope of P300 Mobile Brain/Body Imaging (MoBI) studies, revealing a field that is maturing with well-designed research but facing challenges in standardization global representation. The confirms ERP components can be reliably measured mobile settings, supporting their use studying cognitive processes real-world scenarios. However, lack standardized data cleaning processing techniques poses significant for comparability reproducibility.A notable geographical disparity evident our results, studies predominantly conducted Global North an absence from South, indicating need broader inclusivity to overcome WEIRD bias psychology. Collaborative projects EEG systems demonstrate feasibility reaching diverse populations, which crucial advancing precision psychiatry integrating streams.The methodological trend towards ecological validity marked by shift lab-based facilitated technological advancements portable systems. Future hardware are expected balance signal sensor intrusiveness, enriching collection everyday contexts. Furthermore, innovative methodologies illustrate field's move more natural experimental settings. raises critical questions about applicability traditional markers like environments definition events outside structured paradigms.Finally, underscores importance technologies, physiological sensors, machine learning push boundaries neuroscience. We call operational aid bridging gap between controlled experiments complexity embodied experiences, thereby enhancing both theoretical understanding practical application study design.

Language: Английский

---

Biology in the 21st century: Natural selection is cognitive selection

Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 190, P. 170 - 184

Published: May 11, 2024

Language: Английский

---

Nested Selves: Self‐Organization and Shared Markov Blankets in Prenatal Development in Humans

Topics in Cognitive Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 30, 2023

Abstract The immune system is a central component of organismic function in humans. This paper addresses self‐organization biological systems relation to—and nested within—other pregnancy. Pregnancy constitutes fundamental state for human embodiment and key step the evolution conservation our species. While not all humans can be pregnant, initial emerging growing within another person's body universal. Hence, pregnant does concern some individuals but individuals. Indeed, hierarchical relationship pregnancy reflects an even earlier autopoietic process embryo by which number single blastoderm dynamically determined cell– interactions. interactions between two self‐organizing during may play pivotal role understanding nature per se Specifically, we consider self‐ organization addition to neural/brain that furnish us with sense self. We examine complex case pregnancy, whereby need negotiate exchange resources information order maintain viable self‐regulation systems. conclude proposal mechanisms—that scaffold self‐organising pregnancy—through lens Active Inference, focus on shared Markov blankets.

Language: Английский

---

Innate and Adaptive Regulation of Cognition

Published: March 12, 2024

The draconian regulation required by the inherent instability of cognitive phenomena -- gene expression, immune function, cancer suppression, wound healing, animal consciousness, machine intelligence, network stabilization, institutional cognition, and their many varied composites can be viewed through lens asymptotic limit theorems both information control theories. Here, we explore dynamics sometimes highly punctuated failures cognition under increasing `noise'. approach parallels, indeed generalizes, Data Rate Theorem theory, extending theorem's requirement a minimum channel capacity necessary for stabilization an inherently unstable system. Various models are explored across different basic underlying probability distributions characteristic system study, hierarchical scales, finding addition adaptive learned greatly extends reach innate e.g., AI-driven or otherwise pre-programmed regulation. This work points toward construction new statistical tools analysis observational empirical data wide spectrum pathologies adversarial challenges afflicting variety processes.

Language: Английский

---